Shloka 55

Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla

Devanagari script

बलिकर्मसु वक्ष्यामि गुणान्‌ कर्मफलोदयान्‌ | देवयक्षोरगनृणां भूतानामथ रक्षसाम्‌

Transliteration

balikarmasu vakṣyāmi guṇān karmaphalodayān | devayakṣoraganṝṇāṃ bhūtānām atha rakṣasām ||

Translation

شُکر نے کہا—اب میں بَلی (نذر) کے اعمال کی خوبیاں اور ان کے کرم پھل کے ظہور کو بیان کروں گا—یعنی دیوتاؤں، یَکشوں، ناگوں، انسانوں، بھوتوں اور نیز راکشسوں کو بَلی پیش کرنے سے جو فائدے حاصل ہوتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• बलिकर्मसु: in acts of offering (bali-rites)
• बलिकर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिकर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall speak / I will describe
• वक्ष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गुणान्: qualities, merits
• गुणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कर्मफलोदयान्: the arising of results of actions
• कर्मफलोदयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मफलोदय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• देव: of the gods
• देव: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• यक्ष: of the yakṣas
• यक्ष: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• उरग: of the serpents (nāgas)
• उरग: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• भूतानाम्: of beings / spirits
• भूतानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अथ: and then / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• रक्षसाम्: of the rākṣasas
• रक्षसाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

शुक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śukra
• Devas
• Yakṣas
• Uragas (Nāgas/serpents)
• Humans (nara)
• Bhūtas
• Rākṣasas
• Bali (ritual offering)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Śukra introduces a dharmic principle: offerings (bali) made with proper intent and method generate specific merits and tangible results (karma-phala). The teaching frames ritual giving as ethically consequential—an ordered way of relating to diverse classes of beings and sustaining harmony.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śukra begins a new explanatory section, announcing that he will enumerate the qualities and resulting benefits of bali-offerings directed to different recipients—divine beings, semi-divine spirits, serpents, humans, bhūtas, and rākṣasas—setting up a systematic discussion of ritual practice and its outcomes.